Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, right?
Not always for the planet.
In the UK, waste rises by almost a third in December, with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of food, packaging, and single-use items discarded after a single use.
This year, we wanted to offer our guests a festive alternative that feels joyful and planet-friendly.
Circular Christmas is our new sustainability initiative running across Chiswick, Southampton and Belfast, transforming our everyday coffee waste from Winnie's Cafe & Bar into thoughtful, well-designed gifts and festive treats for our guests.
Guests can take home a piece of sustainable Christmas magic with our limited-edition tree ornaments, crafted from recycled coffee grounds. We’re also hosting live 3D printing on-site, where guests can watch their ornament being made in real time.
Our reclaimed coffee grounds are also being turned into handmade natural soaps, produced in small batches exclusively for room2. With subtle coffee notes and a gentle exfoliating texture, they make the perfect low-waste stocking filler.
Circularity continues at the bar, where our teams have created festive cocktails made with reclaimed coffee grounds. For every drink sold, and for all Circular Christmas products, £1 is donated to local homelessness charities in London, Belfast and Southampton, placing social value at the heart of the celebrations. This year, we are super proud to support:
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SPEAR London – offering outreach, emergency accommodation, health services and long-term tenancy support to people experiencing homelessness to achieve lasting independence.
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People’s Kitchen Belfast – a volunteer-led initiative providing hot meals, essential supplies and a welcoming community space for those facing food insecurity or homelessness.
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City Life Southampton – a local network coordinating frontline support and services to help individuals move toward stability, safety and long-term wellbeing.
Circular Christmas is part of our broader circular design ambition, led by Circular Design Manager Josh Renouf, who has been developing an exciting collection of products made from coffee waste, including lampshades, bins, and boxes. The industry-leading initiative is the first of its kind in the UK to close the loop on hotel waste and reintroduce reclaimed materials back into its operations.
Read more about the Circularity at Lamington Group here: https://lamingtongroup.com/circular-economy
For more information on our sustainability strategy, reach out to sustainabiltiy@lamingtongroup.com